Joseph Engelberger, 2009 IW Manufacturing Hall of Fame Inductee
If the story of manufacturing in the 20th century was largely written as the drive for automation, few could claim a greater share of the story than Joseph Engelberger, the “father of robotics.”
In 1956, Engelberger and George Devol founded Unimation Inc., the world's first robotics company, and built the Unimate, the first industrial robot, which was installed in a General Motors die casting operation in 1961.
After selling Unimation to Westinghouse in 1982, Engelberger turned to the health care field, founding Transitions Research Corp., later called HelpMate Robotics. These robots were designed to carry pharmaceuticals and supplies to nurses. Engelberger also has advocated the use of robotics in elder care, telling Electronic Design magazine that a household robot could be a “companion for the elderly or handicapped in the home, one that could do a task like fetch and carry, find things in the fridge, cook and clean, and speak to you in your language.”
In recognition of his contribution to robotics, the Robotic Industries Association presents the Engelberger Robotics Award each year to an individual for excellence in technology development, application, education and leadership in the robotics industry.
